Combination porcelain socket.



E. 11'. FREEMAN. COMBINATION oncumm'socmr. APPLICATi-ON 111,511 APR.11. 1911. v

1 283,491 Patented N011: 5, 1918.-

stantial and usual functions of snares rarnnr anion.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 E. H. FREEMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMBINATION PORCELAIN SOCKET.

wearer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 11918.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, EDGAR H. FREEMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Trenton, in the county .of Mercer and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combinat1on Porcelain Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical tapsockets and more particularly to a socket of this type embodying a key. switch mechanism whereby the same may{ subserve the a key soc et, as well as providin simple and practical means for tapping t e current from the socket for supplemental uses.

To this end, the invention has in new a novel construction of key socket wherein one set of terminals is controlled by the key switch, while a second set of terminals are constantly live and entirely independent of the other whereby current may be always tapped ofi therefrom regardless of the position of the switch key. That is to say, the present invention contemplates a socket construction wherein one set of terminals is controlled by a switch key, while the other is not, so that the socket may perform-the usual functions of a key socket in connectlon with the ordinary incandescent lamp or other electrical fittin having a screw plug, as

well as subservmg the additional function of supplying current to a branch line for any other electrical purpose, through the medium of a readily attachable and detachable tapping plug.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and practical socket construction which can be economically manufactured and easily assembled, and is of a subermanent character for the purposes specified.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts'hereina-fter more fully described, illunrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the 1mproved socket.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewpartly in elevation showin the switch mechanism and its'relation to t e center contact of the receptacle terminals. r

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a horizontal sectional view of the insulating body plug showing the supplemental line terminals and the tapping plug about to be moved into contact therewith.

Fig. 5- is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of. Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cap piece showin the line wire terminals.

Similar re erence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. 7

In carrying the present inventioninto effect, it is proposed to construct the socket body proper of porcelain, though, it will, of course, be understood that the improvements herein specified may be readily adapted to a metal shell type of socket with suitable provisions for insulation. Accordingly, by reference to Fig. 1, of the drawings, it will be observed that the present socket essentially and preferably comprises a porcelain or equivalent insulating body block designated generally as 1, a porcelain or equivalent receptacle element 2, and a porcelain or equivalent cap element 3, which are held in their assembled relation by means of suitable, fastening screws which are also current carrylng conductors as will herein more fully appear.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the insulatmg body block 1 is provided with a suitable switch chamberC having therein a switch mechanism preferably comprising .in its organization a substantially U-shaped spring contact member 8 connected with one v of the line wire terminals A-carried by the cap element 3 as will hereinafter more fully appear, and a tension spring 9 which causes the switch block to make a quick break in opening the circuit. This tension spring 9 is electrically connected with the center .contact 10 of the receptacle, by means of a combined conductingand holding screw 11 which not only serves to hold the center contact gig 1,283,491

fastening screws 13 cooperating with the usual horseshoe shaped washer plate 14. Thus, the receptacle terminals are the usual center contact spring 10 and screw shell contact 12, the former being electrically connected with one of the line wire terminals of the socket only when the switch block 6 is in closed position. To provide for supplying current to the screw shell contact 12, the latter is in metallic contact with a relatively long live conducting and fastening screw 15, shown in Fi 3 which extends through the closed end wall of the receptacle element and entirely through the body 1 to connect with the line wire terminal plate B in the cap piece. Therefore, it will be apparent that a circuit will be completed through the receptacle terminals 10 and 12 when the switch block 6 connects the contact plates 8 and 9. That is to say, the current will pass from the terminal A through the switch mechanism to the screw 11, center contact 10 to the lamp or other electrical device, and. thence back to the shell 12 and through the screw 15 to the other line wire terminal.

In connection with the insulating body block 1 and receptacle 2,'it will be observed from Figs. 1, 4, and 5 that the same are formed at one side thereof with a flattened plug seat S, which is pierced by the guide openings or channels G that are adapted to receive'the tapping plug contacts which engage with the spring supplemental line ter minals. That is to say, in addition to the switch chamber C, the body block 1 is provided with the parallel guide openings G that communicate with the enlarged housing chambers H, which accommodate therein the angular or equivalent supplemental line terminal springs 16 and 17 respectively adapted to engage with the spaced tapping plug contacts F carried by the line-tap plug designated generally as T. These supplemental line terminal springs 16 and 17 re spectively, are mounted on the angular taching brackets 18 and 19, which are re spectively engaged by, and in electrical con tact with, the relatively long metallic con ducting screws 15 and 20. The latter screw 20, however, has no electrical connection with either of the terminals in the r ceptacle element, but has its upper end in engagement with the spring contact member 8, that is associated with the main line wire terminal A. Therefore, since the conductor screw 15 is in electrical contact with the main line wire terminal B, it will be apparent that current will be supplied to both of the supplemental line terminals 16 and 17 through their respective brackets 18 and 19, because both screws 15 and 20 are constantly live, the same being permanently in electrical contact with both of the main line wire terminals A and B.

The cap element 8 of the socket essentially embodies in its organization an insulating cap piece 21 which carries on one face thereof, the main line wire terminals A and B, previously referred to, while theother face thereof is fitted with a metal covering cap 22 which is held to the insulating body by means of suitable brackets 28 and fastening screws 24. This metal covering cap 22 is fitted with the usual fixture nipple 25 for securing the socket to the end oi a conduit or the like. Fig. 6 of the drawings shows the main line terminals A and B in plan, and as will be observed, these terminals are each of angular formation having the line wire binding screws 26 fitted to the body portion thereof, while the angularly dis posed portion 27 thereof is provided with a suitable opening 28 for receiving the threaded end of its corresponding conductor member 15 or 20, as the case may be.

in connection with the main line wire terminal A, it will be observed that the spring contact member 8 which constitutes a part of the electrical connection between the line wire terminal A and the center contact of the receptacle, may be clamped between the insulating body 1 and the foot 27 of the terminal A, and held in place by the threaded end of the conductor screw 20. Since both of the conductor screws 15 and 20 have their head portions clamping one side of the bottom of the screw shell chamher in the receptacle element, and their opposite ends threaded into the line wire terminals A and 13, it will be apparent that these screws, in addition to providing electrical connections between the line wire terminals and the supplemental line terminals, serve to hold the cap and receptacle elements in assembled elation to the bodybiOCla has Jeen pointed out that conducto ids the body and recepta a to st, t conductor screws 1. I) constitute e means for holding the cap eien it 8 the body, because of their tl rcaded engagement with the line wire terminals which are rigidly carried o the "'celain cap piece 21 of the cap.

cgoing, it will be apparent ont construction provides a both receptacle and line tapthe latter being permanently that the socket h in electrical contact with the line wire terminals A and B, while one of the connections for the receptacle or lam-p contacts include a switch mechanism, which is capable of rendering the said contacts live or dead according to the position of the switch. That is to say, current for the receptacle terminals will pass from the line wire terminal A, through the contact spring 8, switch block 6, spring 9, screw 11 and center contact 10 through the lamp or other electrical device,

and thence back to the screw shell and to the line wire terminal B through the conductor 15. However, both the supplemental line terminals 16 and 17 are always live, and therefore, ready for use regardless of the position of the switch, because of their connection with the constantly live conductors 15 and 20. The conductor 20, however, is entirely insulated from the terminals, as already explained. I

Without furthcrdescription, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent,

tion with the line Wire terminals.

2. In an electrical tap key-socket including an insulating body block, a cap carrying the line wire termina s, a receptacle element carryin the lamp terminals, a switch mechanism or controlling the current to the lamp terminals, line tapping terminals carriedby the body block, and fastening elements connectin the line wire terminals and the line tapping terminals and arranged as coupling members for holding the cap in position. a I

3. An electrical'tap key-socket including a cap having main line wire terminals, a body block, a switch mechanism in the body block, a contact for the switch mechanism in electrical connection with one of the main 1 line wire terminals, a receptacle element, contacts 1n the receptacle, means for connecting one of said contacts with the switch mechanism and holding'the receptacle and body'together, elements for clamping the cap and receptacle to the bodyblock and electrically connected with the main line wire term nals, one of said elements connectmg one of the main line wire terminals with" one of the receptacle contacts, and constantly live supplemental line terminals in electrical connection with said elements for clamping the cap and receptacle to the body.

4. An electrical tap key-socket including an insulating body block, a cap carrying main line wire terminals at one end of said block, a receptacle element at the other end thereof and having lamp terminals, a single switch mechanism electrically connected with one of the lamp terminals and with one of the main line w1re terminals, live conductors carried by the body block'and detachably connected with the main line wire terminals, thereby holding the cap in pos1t1on, one of the said conductors connecting with one of the lamp terminals and constantly live supplemental line terminals carried .by the conductors.

5. vAn electrical tap key-socket including an insulating body block having a switch chamber in one face and separate supplemental-line terminal chambers inthe other face, a cap carrying the main line wire ter-' minals, a receptacle having lamp terminals, a switch mechanism in the switch chamber, a conductor screw coupling the receptacle and body. block and alsoprovi'ding electrical connection between the switch mechanism and one of the lamp contacts, combined conducting and holding-screws clamping the receptacle to one end of the body block and engaging the main line Wire terminals in the cap to hold the latter to the body block, one of said screws connecting one of the main line wire terminals and one of the lamp contacts, and supplemental line terminals 10- cated in the said terminal chambers of the body.

In testimon whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in t e presenceof two witnesses.

EDGAR H. FREEMAN. Witnesses:

M. S. SMITH, J. H. HART. 

